Total number of international students in the US
According to IIE Open Doors data, there were 1,126,690 international students in the US in 2023/24 including Optional Practical Training (OPT), and all-time high for the destination and a 7% increase on the previous year.
Excluding OPT, US’s post-graduation work-stream which is counted in official international student figures, there were 858,395 international students in 2022/23, rising to 883,908 last year.
Top 10 sending markets
India surpassed China for the first time in 2024 becoming the largest sending market of international students to the US. Together, India and China made up 54% total international enrolments.
Number of students in the post-graduation work stream (OPT)
In 2023/24 there were 242,782 international students enrolled in OPT, a 22% increase on the previous year.
Economic value of international higher education in the US
According to the US Department of Commerce (as reported by IIE), international students contributed more than $50 billion to the US economy in 2023.
Number of new enrolments
The number of new international students enrolling at a US college or university for the first time was 298,705 in 2023/2024, a slight reduction on the previous year.
